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Ping introduces Rapture driving iron

Courtesy of Ping Golf

The Ping Rapture driving iron features significant tungsten weighting in the stainless heel and toe to create a high MOI for a head its size. That, Ping says, makes the club easier to hit than a standard long iron.

After testing the club over the past several months among its professional tour staff, Ping is rolling out its Ping Rapture driving iron to the general public.

Available with 18 degrees of loft, the Rapture features significant tungsten weighting in the stainless heel and toe to create a high MOI for a head its size. That, Ping says, makes the club easier to hit than a standard long iron. At the same time, its wider sole gives the Rapture the playability of a hybrid but with much less spin. As a result, Ping says, the Rapture delivers a low, penetrating ball flight that maximizes distance and control.

''The Rapture driving iron has been well-received by tour pros because it provides longer shots and a controlled trajectory,'' said Ping Chairman and CEO John A. Solheim. ''It's more forgiving and generates much faster ball speed than the 2-iron equivalent, yet it launches lower and spins far less than a comparable hybrid. The low, penetrating trajectory offers control and command, which is essential for keeping the ball under the wind, for example, or when you’re playing a hard, fast course and you want to maximize roll out.''

A key attribute of the Rapture driving iron is its flat 455 stainless steel face, which improves ball velocity and promotes workability because it has no bulge and roll. The sole in the 17-4 stainless steel head locates the Center of Gravity low for optimizing launch conditions and turf interaction.

''This club is a great option off the tee, but it's also effective in making solid contact from the ground,'' Solheim said. ''It's a versatile design.''

The Rapture's stock shaft is Ping's proprietary graphite TFC 949 with chrome PVD finish (R, S, X flexes). It is 39.75 inches in length, making it a half-inch longer than a standard 2-iron shaft. This shaft configuration, Solheim says, improves energy transfer for faster ball speeds and more distance.

The club comes in a foggy-chrome finish, and carries a suggested retail price of $220.